What Should I Do If I Am Injured at Work?

Promptly reporting your injury to your supervisor is the first step toward a successful resolution of a workers’ compensation claim. Filling out an accident report is the best way to report an injury as it provides documentation on how the injury happened and evidence that it was immediately reported.  Accident reports eliminate any arguments by the employer or their insurance carrier that the accident was not timely reported.

In most cases, workers’ comp is the only way to pay medical bills related to a workplace accident and replace the wages you lose while you are unable to work. Injured  workers need not prove fault to obtain these benefits.

Originally, the system was designed to speed financial relief and medical treatment to  injured workers who needed it.. Unfortunately, now insurance companies often try to delay these benefits or wrongfully deny claims in an effort to frustrate or intimidate injured workers all in an attempt to save the insurance company money.  So, you need a Rock Hill workers’ compensation lawyer to help you successfully navigate this system.

Medical Bills

Injury-related medical bills could balloon, with many exceeding $100,000. Most health insurance companies refuse to pay such costs, since there is a possibility that another entity might cover the bill. Most families cannot possibly pay such costs out of pocket.

Workers’ compensation usually takes care of all reasonably necessary medical expenses after a job injury, such as:

• Emergency care
• Follow-up treatment
• Medical devices
• Prescription drugs
• Occupational or physical therapy
• Surgery
• Diagnostics such as MRI’s, CT Scans, and X-Rays

Lost Wages

Most job injury victims are temporarily disabled, and are unable to go  back to work until  they fully recover. , Workers’ compensation pays two-thirds of the victim’s average weekly wage (AWW) for the duration of that disability. The AWW is sometimes difficult to calculate properly. For example, if Sam’s injury causes him to miss performance bonus milestones in coming weeks, his benefits must account for this income.  If the injured employee has a second part-time job they work on the weekend or on days off, those wages must also be included in the Average Weekly Wage calculation.

If the victim is permanently disabled, most victims receive lump sum payments. The amount usually depends on the extent and nature of the disability. Bear in mind that disability is not just a medical term.  Many different factors help determine whether a person is permanently and totally disabled to include:  Extent of injury, permanent work restrictions, age, educational, occupation, a person’s work history and resulting transferrable skills.

Full benefits are usually available even if a pre-existing or non-work condition contributed to the injury. Insurance companies cannot use a victim’s vulnerabilities as an excuse to reduce or deny benefits.

Benefits are available which help job injury victims get back to their lives. For a free consultation with an experienced Rock Hill workers’ compensation lawyer, contact the Elrod Pope Law Firm, P.A.  We routinely handle matters throughout the Palmetto State.

FAQs